Extraepithelial Glands—Seromucous (Mixed) Glands

Some glands contain serous 1 and mucous 2 gland cells. They are therefore termed mixed glands. Serous and mucous terminal portions can exist side by side. However, mucous tubules 2 of ten feature at their ends serous gland cells, which form a cap-like structure, termed serous cap or demilunes 3  ( Ebner ’s or Giannuzzi’s crescents, semiluna serosa ). The flattened nuclei in the basal cell region, the cell borders and the light cytoplasm of the mucous gland cells are clearly discernible. The serous acini are smaller, their lumina more narrow and their nuclei are round.

1 Serous acini

2 Mucous tubule

3 Serous demilune

Stain: azan; magnification: × 400

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgar t · New York .